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AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

Each of these four juvenile assessment instruments or tests is designed for a specific juvenile population.  Each of these tests has a “Truthfulness Scale” to identify problem minimization and attempts to “fake good.”  Each test also has an Alcohol Scale and a Drugs Scale to identify substance use and measure the severity of abuse.  And each of these tests also has other important measures or scales that are designed specifically for the troubled youth population they will be used to evaluate.

These tests provide juvenile screening along a continuum from “average” to potentially “violent and dangerous.”  Test referrals are contingent upon the severity of the troubled youth’s scale scores.  Violence pattern recognition facilitates early problem identification, timely referral and prompt intervention and/or treatment.  Such programs are practical, cost effective and timely.

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

Test diskettes containing 25 or 50 tests are needed to score and print reports.  Each diskette contains one type of test, so if you ordered two different tests you will receive two different diskettes.  Tests can be administered directly on the computer screen or in paper-pencil test booklet format.  Regardless of how tests are administered, all tests are computer scored.  These systems are easy to use and no special training beyond the tests User Manual is required.  All juvenile names are deleted before used diskettes are returned to Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. (Risk & Needs) for inclusion in their expanding database for subsequent research analysis.  Tests are administered with scoring and printing of reports completed within 2½ minutes on-site.

NAVIGATIONAL LINKS

Visitors desiring more test information are invited to visit Risk & Needs website, the website is www.riskandneeds.com. When you arrive at Risk & Needs website, important links are in the left margin of each webpage.  Click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link and scroll down to the tests name you want.  Click on the tests name and you will go directly to that tests webpage.  Risk & Needs test webpages are in depth and contain a lot of information.

For other website links click here.

FOUR  JUVENILE  COURT  TEST  LINKS

Due to the length of this juvenile-court-tests.com website, you are provided another opportunity to click on the test name you are interested in and then go directly to that tests discussion.  Some site visitors will be interested in one juvenile court test, whereas others will prefer reading this entire websites discussion of four juvenile court tests.

Each juvenile court test is discussed in the order it is represented above.  Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. address, telephone number, fax number and E-mail address are presented at the end of each tests discussion.

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Applications: Juvenile courts, family and drug courts, probation departments, community corrections, counseling and treatment agencies.  If you are concerned about troubled youth violence (lethality) potential we recommend you consider the ACDI-Corrections Version II.

Description: The ACDI-Corrections Version II is an automated (computer scored) juvenile assessment instrument or test.  It contains 140 items and takes 25 to 30 minutes to complete.  Version II contains seven measures (scales): 1. Truthfulness Scale, 2. Alcohol Scale, 3. Drugs Scale, 4. Violence (Lethality) Scale, 5. Distress Scale, 6. Adjustment Scale and 7. Stress Coping Abilities Scale.

Seven ACDI-Corrections Version II
Scales (Measures)

1. Truthfulness Scale: Measures the juvenile’s truthfulness while completing the test.  It identifies denial, problem minimization and attempts to “fake good.”

2.   Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse.  Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquors.

3.  Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana, crack, cocaine, ice, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin.

4.  Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the use of force to injure, damage or destroy.  Identifies youths that are a danger to themselves and others.  Very high scorers (90th percentile and above) can be suicidal or homicidal.

5.  Distress Scale: Measures strain imposed by pain, worry, anxiety, depression or suffering.  Distress is the most common reason for juveniles to seek counseling.

6.  Adjustment Scale: Measures the youth’s ability to adjust, conform and function.  Recognizes personal and social stressors at home, school and in authority relationships.

7.    Stress Coping Abilities Scale: Measures the youth’s ability to cope with stress and pressure.  Stress exacerbates symptoms of emotional and mental health problems.

Why use the ACDI-Corrections Version II?  While adult crime rates have recently fallen across the U.S., they have risen among the nation’s youth.  For example, as the adult arrest rate for murder fell from 1978 to 1993, the juvenile murder (lethality) rate rose by 77%.  At the same time the arrest rate of youths for all violent crimes climbed 79%.  These statistics underscore the need for meaningful and accurate juvenile assessment.  Early detection of troubled youth’s problems facilitates quicker intervention and treatment.  This type of information also helps in deciding upon counseling, treatment, probation, levels of supervision and alternatives to incarceration.  The seven ACDI-Corrections Version II scales (measures) acquire important information often missed by other tests.

At one sitting of approximately 30 minutes duration staff can acquire a vast amount of juvenile-related information which includes attitudes, substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse involvement, acting out (violence/lethality propensity), perceived distress and coping behaviors.  Early problem identification facilitates timely intervention and improved treatment outcomes.

UNIQUE FEATURES

Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful and open the juvenile was while completing the ACDI-Corrections Version II.  This scale identifies denial, problem minimization and faking.  A Truthfulness Scale is a very important component in contemporary juvenile assessment.

Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the juvenile’s propensity for using force to injure, damage or destroy.  Extreme violence often results in lethality (suicide or homicide).  When screening violence or lethality potential is important we recommend you use the ACDI-Corrections Version II.

Three ways to administer the ACDI-Corrections Version II:  This test can be administered in three different ways:  1. Paper-pencil test administration.  2. On the computer monitor, and 3. Human-Voice-Audio.    Human-voice-audio involves a computer and a headset.  It is appropriate for English and Spanish speaking youth.

Confidentiality: Is assured with the ACDI-Corrections Version II.  This proprietary name deletion procedure involves a few keystrokes.  All juvenile names are deleted while keeping demographics and test data for subsequent research analysis. This procedure insures client confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA (federal regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501) requirements.

Risk & Needs Website

More ACDI-corrections Version II information and research is provided on the Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website.  To go directly to the Risk & Needs website click on the www.riskandneeds.com link.  When you arrive at Risk & Needs website click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link and then scroll down to the ACDI-Corrections Version II tests name and click on it.  You will then go directly to the ACDI-Corrections Version II webpage.

NAVIGATION  LINKS

ACDI-Corrections Version II

=               The ACDI-Corrections Version II Example Report link takes you to the example report that is presented later in this discussion.  Sometimes it helps to see what a test report looks like.  It also shows how ACDI-Corrections Version II test data is summarized and presented.

=               The Test Comparison Checklist provides information in a checklist format that helps compare the ACDI-Corrections Version II with other tests.

=               The Cost (Test Unit Fee) link explains ACDI-Corrections Version II cost in a straightforward manner.  The ACDI-Corrections Version II is a very affordable test.

=               The Free Examination Kit link allows interested parties to try out the ACDI-Corrections Version II and see what it does before purchasing it.  The Examination Kit contains two-test applications.

=               To understand ACDI-Corrections Version II scales and how they interact, click on this Scale Interpretation link.

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RESEARCH

ACDI-Corrections Version II standardization research is summarized in the document titled: “ACDI: An Inventory of Scientific Findings,” which can be provided upon request.  ACDI-Corrections Version II scales were compared to other tests that purportedly measured the same thing.  Subsequent database research and annual database analysis demonstrates impressive validity, reliability and accuracy.  Other ACDI-Corrections Version II research is reported in the Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website www.riskandneeds.com.

For reference, internal consistencies (alpha coefficients) for ACDI-Corrections Version II scales are reported in the following table for 2,180 troubled youth screened in 2002.

All ACDI-Corrections Version II scales have alpha coefficients well above the professionally accepted standard of .80 and are highly reliable.  And all alpha coefficients are significant at the p<.001 level of significance.  To review an ACDI-Corrections Version II research study click on the ACDI-Corrections Version II Research link.

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ACDI-CORRECTIONS VERSION II
EXAMPLE REPORT

The ACDI-Corrections Version II (Version II) example report is presented for your review.  Each Version II report is organized around the same outline or format, yet these reports are highly individualized.  Each report is 4 pages in length.  And, all Version II reports are scored and printed within 2½ minutes from data entry.

The first page of the Version II report begins with the juvenile's name and some demographics, e.g., age, gender, ethnicity and education.  The ACDI-Corrections Version II Profile (graph) summarizes Version II scores at glance. The first page concludes with the juvenile's reported court history. 

The second page of the Version II report presents a summary paragraph for four of Version II's scales (measures): Truthfulness Scale, Alcohol Scale, Drugs Scale, and Violence Scale. Each paragraph presents the youth's scale score, explains what that score means and offers specific score-related recommendations.

The third page completes the scale paragraphs for the Distress Scale, Adjustment Scale and the Stress Coping Abilities Scale. Page 3 concludes with a reproduction of all Version II answers.

The fourth page contains significant items (direct admissions and unusual answers) to the Alcohol Scale, Drugs Scale, Violence (Lethality) Scale, Distress Scale and the Adjustment Scale. Significant items are followed by the structured interview, (items #131-140), which consists of 10 multiple choice questions. Each of these items has four possible answers, and the answer selected by the juvenile is printed in the report. This helps the assessor determine the juvenile's answers to items of interest to the staff member. Page 4 concludes with space provided for staff member observations and comments, staff member signature and date.

We hope this ACDI-Corrections Version II webpage has been interesting and helpful. Additional information can be provided upon request by writing Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc., P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828. Our telephone number is (602) 234-3506, our fax number is (602) 266-8227 and our e-mail address is hhl@riskandneeds.com.

We hope this ACDI-Corrections Version II webpage has been both interesting and helpful.  If you desire more information on the ACDI-Corrections Version II we suggest you click on the Risk & Needs website link www.riskandneeds.com which goes into greater depth and detail.  When you arrive at Risk & Needs site, there are navigational links in the left margin of each webpage.  Click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link and then scroll down to the test of interest to you.  Click on the tests name and you will go directly to that tests webpage.  It’s that easy!

Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.
P.O. Box 44828
Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828

Telephone: (602) 234-3506
Fax: (602) 266-8227
E-mail: hhl@riskandneeds.com

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The Sexual Adjustment Inventory-Juvenile or SAI-Juvenile identifies sexual deviance and paraphiliac behavior in juveniles accused or convicted of sex offenses.  The SAI-Juvenile has 195 items and takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.  Reports are scored and printed on-site within 2½ minutes.

Applications:  Juvenile sex offender assessment, identification of juvenile sexually deviate and paraphiliac behavior as well as court-related assessments.  Courts, juvenile probation departments, community corrections, special sex offender caseloads and sex offender treatment programs use the SAI-Juvenile.

Description:  The SAI-Juvenile identifies deviate and paraphiliac behavior in juveniles (male and female) accused or convicted of sexual offenses.  The SAI-Juvenile has 13 scales (measures) 1.  Test Item Truthfulness, 2. Sex Item Truthfulness, 3. Sexual Adjustment, 4. Child (Pedophile) Molest, 5. Sexual (Rape) Assault, 6. Exhibitionism, 7. Incest, 8. Violence (Lethality), 9. Antisocial, 10. Distress, 11. Judgment, 12. Alcohol and 13. Drugs.

Most sex offenders attempt to minimize their problems, which magnifies the importance of the SAI-Juvenile's two Truthfulness Scales.  The SAI-Juvenile has proven to be a valid, reliable, accurate and objective juvenile sex offender assessment instrument or test.

Thirteen SAI-Juvenile Scales (Measures)

1.      Sex Item Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the juvenile was while answering sex-related questions.  There is no attempt to trick or deceive the juvenile.  Consequently, sex-related items are easy to recognize.  This scale identifies denial, problem minimization and attempts to fake good.

2.      Test Item Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the youth was while completing non-sex-related items.  Non-sex-related scales include the Alcohol Scale, Drugs Scale, Violence (Lethality) Scale, Antisocial Scale, Distress Scale and the Judgment Scale.  This scale identifies denial, attempts to minimize problems and faking good.

3.      Sexual Adjustment Scale: Measures the youth’s self-reported sexual adjustment.  A high score reveals sexual dissatisfaction (as compared to other juveniles).  Norming the SAI-Juvenile on both normals and sexual deviates allows comparison scoring.  The greater the difference the greater the problem.

4.      Child (Pedophile) Molest Scale: Measures a juvenile’s sexual interests, urges and fantasies involving prepubescent children.  Pedophilia is a pathological sexual interest in children.  Isolated sexual acts with a child do not necessarily warrant the classification of pedophilia.

5.      Sexual (Rape) Assault Scale: Measures one’s proneness to sexual assault.  Rape refers to sexual intercourse against the will and over the objections of the partner.  It is often accompanied by force or the threat of force.

6.      Exhibitionism Scale: Measures a person’s need to expose their sex organs to unsuspecting individuals.  Exhibitionists are often identified by the repetitive, compulsive and patterned nature of these acts.

7.      Incest Scale: Measures incestuous behavior, i.e., having sexual relationships with a family member (not one’s spouse).  Incest refers to coitus between persons related by blood or marriage, i.e., parents, siblings or children.  Non-coital forms of sexual intercourse do not constitute incest.

8.      Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse.  Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquors.  Alcohol is a legal or licit substance.  Alcohol consumption all too frequently is present during sexual offender’s acts.

9.      Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana, crack, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin.  When both the Alcohol Scale and the Drugs Scale are elevated, the higher score usually represents the juvenile’s substance of choice.  When both the Alcohol and Drugs Scale are elevated, this identifies polysubstance abuse.

10.  Violence (Leth